TWO robbers have been jailed for their roles in computer equipment raids where the victims were threatened with having their fingers cut off.

The pair were part of a larger gang which stole computers and other items worth a total estimated value of £415,840, during a crime spree across the south east between September 2010 and March 2011.

The robberies included one at a private address in Charlwood, near Horley, in January 2011, as well as the Robert Dyas and Puma UK businesses in Leatherhead, in October 2010 and February 2011 respectively.

Dean Shade, 32, of Turpington Lane, Bromley, Kent, was sentenced to life imprisonment last Friday (June 8), with a minimum term of 10 years before he can apply for parole. He was convicted of conspiracy to rob last month following a four-week trial at Brighton Crown Court.

James Russell, 24, of Leybourne Close, Crawley, West Sussex, was jailed for 11 years after previously pleading guilty to the same offence.

A third defendant, Candice Fox, 29, of The Brindle Way, Purley, south London, was given a 12-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, and ordered to do 200 hours' unpaid community work. She had admitted converting criminal property, specifically photographic equipment stolen in the robberies.

The South East Regional Organised Crime Unit (SEROCU) said the robberies had left the victims traumatised, with the masked offenders armed with knives, chainsaws, angle grinders and baseball bats.

The equipment they stole included 169 Apple Mac computers.

The robbers also threatened to cut off their victims' fingers if they did not reveal the PIN for their own bank cards.

Detective Sergeant Dennis Phelan, of SEROCU, said: "Shade was the main instigator of a larger gang responsible for this spate of robberies. Russell was one of those actively involved with him in the offences.

"These offences were not committed with any great degree of sophistication. The gang simply relied upon brute force and numbers to threaten and terrorise their victims, many of whom were tied up and marched round their premises before being left alone, restrained in the premises until the alarm was raised.

"Due to the threats and level of violence used, many of the witnesses who gave evidence did so from behind screens. I would like to applaud their courage in doing so. Several remain traumatised to this day by these events."

Detective Chief Inspector Dave Allen, senior investigating officer, added: "There are others out there who were involved in these extremely violent offences who have not yet been brought to justice.

"If the public have information that would enable them to be held to account for the terror they also wrought on their victims in their places of work, I would ask them to speak to the police either directly via 101 or through independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”